Growing Green (Asynchronous - Online Only)
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Sustainability Education in Action View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Dr. Ray Wu Rorrer
This reflective study is a review of the culminating activities, experiences, and efforts of a handful of dedicated individuals within the Falls Church City Public School (FCCPS) system that has led to a marquee sustainability education program focused on food and water systems. Students learn and develop an appreciation for the basics of growing food and the importance of water in an urban area through applications in environmental science, design, technology, and engineering education settings. The study demonstrates how the team effectively integrates the United Nation’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development into the Environmental Science (Environmental Pillar), Design/Engineering (Social Pillar), and Energy (Economic Pillar) programs in the school division’s secondary schools (grades 6-12).
Current Status of the Texas Tech University Home Utility Management System View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Brian Ancell
The utility infrastructure currently in place that supports global water and power usage presents several potentially serious issues. Surface and groundwater supplies can fall short of demand, a problem projected to become worse with projected climate variability and future population growth. Emissions from fossil fuel-based power generation and their increased atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations can lead to serious global consequences well beyond the climate itself (e.g. agricultural food supply, or sea level). Even with the continued development of renewable energy systems that harvest wind and solar power, centralized utility systems leave large portions of society vulnerable to natural hazards and attacks. In turn, a critical need exists to create utility systems that can mitigate these potentially disastrous societal, economic, and environmental problems. We have been testing a home utility management system (or HUMS) at Texas Tech University that can potentially provide the solution at a residential level. The HUMS is a decentralized utility model based on renewable resources that enables individual homes to produce a substantial portion of their own power (with solar panels, a wind turbine, and a residential battery) and water (through rain harvest and water storage). The utility system is integrated into a home computer that displays current power and storage levels and the expected future availability of water and power resources (through high quality probabilistic weather prediction data). Here we describe the current status of HUMS with a focus on the machine-learning residential utility use guidance aspect that will be evaluated in a social context.
An Interactive Recycling System: Ways to Encourage Green Behavior View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Junghwa Kim Suh, Maria Meagan Bernaldez
Our daily waste has been surpassing the capacity of what earth can handle but the seriousness of the problem is often neglected since trash is often dumped and transported to somewhere people don’t know. With ongoing drastic experiences of the climate crisis, one of the ways to decrease and reuse wastes is recycling. The concept and practice of recycling have been around for a long time, but the lack of a recycling system, especially in the US, has created confusion in terms of what can be recycled and how to recycle wastes properly. As one of the sustainable practices, an effective recycling system may bring a positive impact on reducing waste and increasing appropriate recyclable materials by the participation of individuals and communities. Case studies from different countries provide insights into how the recycling system can be effective, but the collective action of individuals-, community- and nation-wide is necessary. Research shows that some effective recycling systems are embedded in cultural practices and civil responsibility. This study explores creating ‘recycling behavior’ starting from encouraging individuals- and community-based action. Based on the survey result of people’s understanding of recycling, this research focuses on proposing a comprehensive interactive recycling system to foster effective ‘recycling behavior.’ The results of the study may impact the design of recycling system in built environments and encourage positive and socially responsible recycling behavior in a step towards a greener future.
Consolidating People’s Voices for Participation in National Elections: Bridging Gaps through Information and Communications Technology Initiatives - a Basis for Action Research View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kevin John Maddela
Contesting issues of oligarchy and elitism has been an issue coming from the popular opinion of the masses that wish to eradicate a seemingly existing political approach in the aid of addressing the people’s common needs. In the Philippines, it is evident for the last five years where a lot of populist leaders and leadership types are on the rise. This paper specifically provides 1) an idea of bridging populist demands to national governance, 2) a tangible and considerable report for Commission on Elections (COMELEC) perusal and aspiring political candidates (most especially in national positions) as bases for their platform construction; and 3) an explored potential of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) resources as a tool in consolidating these perceived gaps. In the discussion, a possibility has been shown with the inclusion of ICT resources to empower local citizens in their participation of sharing their piece to national legislations as well as integrating an ICT strategy to accommodate these various demands. However, there are a lot of realities to be acknowledged like the reasons for “gaps” existence. This paper highlights 1) that populist demands and opinions are possible opportunities for dialogue, consultation, coordination, and collaboration with other public and private institutions and agencies; 2) a need to establish and re-build strategies for ICT inclusion even to the rural communities - a springboard to widen the work of e-governance in the country. It argues that it would empower local governments, regardless of level or form, for ICT development.
Innovative Solutions Against the Impacts of Climate Change? : The Example of Territorial Resilience in the French Agri-food Sector View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Cornelia Caseau
Farmers and rural communities are on the front line of most climate disasters worldwide, and climate change has already reduced agricultural production in many places. There is consequently an urgent need to identify the factors that contribute to the resilience of these food systems. This study focuses on the preservation of the blackcurrant industry in Burgundy Franche-Comté ('Acteurs du Cassis') and on resilience, particularly in its agri-food dimension. Thus, it studies the issue of securing production volumes and organoleptic quality in the face of climate change, and the development of innovative agro-ecological practices through this association. The pilot project of the 'Acteurs du Cassis' (bringing together farmers, processors and researchers) can serve as an example to other agricultural sectors. The study is in the business discipline. We conducted a qualitative study with 16 actors. A questionnaire was administered to each of the interviewees. The analysis was carried out according to academic recommendations for case studies. We found that the collaboration of the different professional groups within their small community is an effective way to find solutions to problems. There remains the question of funding, currently provided by public bodies for a few years, which is essential for the sustainability of this project.
How Does Sustainable Water Consumption in the Shower Relate to the Perception of Well-being? View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Nazaret Ibáñez Rueda
Water scarcity is already a worrying issue and it is predicted to get worse in the future. This creates an imperative to use water efficiently and sustainably. In the domestic sphere, one of the main uses of water is showering, not only for hygiene reasons but also as a wellness activity. In order to gain insight into the implications of sustainable shower use, we analyse the relationship between subjective well-being and water consumption in the shower. We aim to answer the following questions: 1) How does shower water consumption relate to subjective well-being? 2) Does this relationship with subjective well-being differ depending on showering habits (time spent in the shower, and number of showers per week)? and 3) Does this relationship differ depending on the season (winter and summer)? The dataset contains information on 937 students from different disciplines at the University of Granada, Spain. The different interpretations of subjective well-being considered are life satisfaction, affect, and vitality. Results suggest that there is a negative relationship between water consumption and subjective well-being, in line with the literature that identifies a well-being dividend from green behaviour (being pro-environmental helps the environment and increases happiness). All subjective well-being dimensions are negatively related to time spent in the shower, regardless of the season. In contrast, the frequency of showering is not significantly related to well-being. Therefore, it appears that higher water consumption does not translate into higher perceived well-being, indicating that there is no conflict between efficient shower water use and individual well-being.
Understanding the Psychology of Household Food Waste : The Effects of Values, Goals, Intentions, and Food Management Behaviours View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Christian Bretter
Household food waste is one of the main drivers of carbon emissions and therefore a key obstacle to tackling climate change. Reducing food waste, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of its psychological determinants. While some research has focused on better understanding the effects of food management behaviours on household food waste, other research has examined behavioural intentions and similar constructs that accompany the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991). We, however, argue that such approaches are too simplistic. Instead of focusing on each of those factors in isolation, we see the need to incorporate all these, as well as additional factors such as personal values and goals into a more comprehensive framework to better understand the determinants of household food waste behaviour. To examine our framework, we applied a two-wave survey design, with a UK representative sample (N = 1,498 participants) and used Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the data. Our results show that individual values predicted attitudes and norms related to food waste which, in turn, predicted the intention to reduce food waste. These behavioural intentions predicted self-reported household food waste. Additionally, however, individual values predicted individual goals while such goals affected self-reported engagement in food management behaviours which, ultimately, predicted self-reported household food waste. Our findings suggest that household food waste is the result of a complex interplay among different factors; and focusing on each of those factors in isolation ignores such complexities. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and practice.
Sustainable Tourism and Territorial Planning: Impact on La Macarena - Colombia View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Adriana Carolina Avila Hernandez
This study investigates the impact that sustainable tourism has on the territorial planning of La Macarena - Colombia, as well as the long-term conditions that will allow both its leaders and citizens to solve two major needs: sustainable territorial development and zero deforestation of the Amazon rainforest. The Municipality of La Macarena is located in the Colombian Amazon region, an environmentally protected area, it has within its territory 2 National Natural Parks, as well as some of the most important natural tourist attractions in the country. As a territory immersed in the armed conflict, its development has been slow, but a process of resurgence is currently beginning, driven largely by national and international tourism, which is expected to be accompanied by progress for its inhabitants reflected in access to services. basics like health, education and transportation. Additionally, through a court ruling, both the national and local governments were ordered to reduce deforestation in the territory to zero through the implementation of urgent actions. The document identifies the projected territorial planning framework, the needs of the protected areas and the local management process, in order to address a territorial development strategy adjusted to the needs of the territory that is accompanied by a sustainable tourism policy.
